CALONICE. No, Lysistrata, one cannot swear peace over a buckler, surely.
LYSISTRATA. What other oath do you prefer?
CALONICE. Let's take a white horse, and sacrifice it, and swear on its entrails.
LYSISTRATA. But where get a white horse from?
CALONICE. Well, what oath shall we take then?
LYSISTRATA. Listen to me. Let's set a great black bowl on the ground; let's sacrifice a skin of Thasian[411] wine into it, and take oath not to add one single drop of water.
LAMPITO. Ah! that's an oath pleases me more than I can say.
LYSISTRATA. Let them bring me a bowl and a skin of wine.
CALONICE. Ah! my dears, what a noble big bowl! what a delight 'twill be to empty it!
LYSISTRATA. Set the bowl down on the ground, and lay your hands on the victim.... Almighty goddess, Persuasion, and thou, bowl, boon comrade of joy and merriment, receive this our sacrifice, and be propitious to us poor women!
[411] A volcanic island in the northern part of the Aegaean, celebrated for its vineyards.
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